Kulich Caps Off Long Road Back With Game-Winner In Sabres Home Opener

The Buffalo Sabres unveiled their 2025-26 Atlantic Division banner before their home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, something that young forward Jiri Kulich did not contribute a lot towards. In the second game of the season, the youngster made his first mark by scoring the game-winner in the Sabres 4-3 comeback win over the Hawks at KeyBank Center. 

The 22-year-old Czech was filling in for the injured Josh Norris after he suffered an injury on opening night, but that opportunity lasted until November, when his season ended due to blood clot issues. 

"I'm so happy for him. He was so frustrated late last year and watching us  in  the  playoffs, and  not  being  able  to  be  part  of  it,  and  he  was getting his career underway in the   last   20  games of  the  year  before." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said "(It was) a  huge  setback.  He  spent  a  lot  of  time  this  summer  trying  to  get  his  body  and  just  his  hockey  back  in  the  right  place.....  I  think  he  embraces  the  fact  that  he's  playing  right  now.  That  i t  could  have  gone  any  direction."

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Kulich has been used in a limited role during training camp, but the Sabres are depending on him and a number of their young players to take a step this season with Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram elsewhere, and Jason Zucker out injured. The Sabres, through two games, have received some contributions from rookie Konsta Helenius (1 goal) and Noah Ostlund (2 assists) against Columbus, but most of the scoring has come from members of the veteran core group.

Jack Quinn scored for the second time in as many games, while Tage Thompson, Mattas Samuelsson, and Rasmus Dahlin have each scored. For the Sabres to be able to continue on the positive track laid out last season by snapping their 15-year playoff drought, they will need to have their young forwards to provide enough secondary offense to take some of the burden off their core players. 

Buffalo continues their five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. 

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